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Kellye Garrett
Why I started Cowtown Concierge.
My contribution to the work force has been in the Hospitality
industry, managing Bed & Breakfasts, Small Inns & Boutique Hotels
throughout Texas. Prior to that, I worked for the T&P Railroad, now the
BNSF, in customer service. during the years of 1996-2001, I owned a
business, "Inn Touch InnSitting Service", which offered property owners or managers, an opportunity to "escape" for a much needed vacation. All the while, knowing their "baby" was in good hands. Their trust and confidence were testaments to my honest and professional work ethic. Etta's Place, A Sundance Inn in Fort Worth, The Nutt House Hotel in Granbury, the Ant Street Inn in Brenham were some of my favorite places to work. The Hoopes House in Rockport, which I continue to work one week during the summer there, and 2008 will mark my 9th year. It is a most comfortable & beautifully landscaped B&B.
Common responsibilities at every location were on-site property
management, knowledge of business policies & procedures, daily sales revenue reports & banking transactions, booking all reservation requests (via phone, email, through on-line software, as well as, spur-of-the-moment guest walk-ins), overseeing housekeepers & schedules, as well as, menu planning, preparation & serving the guests that delicious breakfast that they so looked forward to! If you ever see a small -mini book entitled "Texas Morning Glory, Memorable Breakfast Recipes from Lone Star B&B and Inns" look for some of my recipes. Fort Worth's own, Star-telegram writer Barry Shlachter complied the book and asked me to write the introduction. It was an honor and my recipes weren't so bad either!
Common B&B guest requests were: locating a "perfect gift" for that
special occasion; making dinner reservations; purchasing amusement tickets for a local play, music concert, or sporting event; arranging
transportation; ordering "her" favorite flowers for delivery; scheduling
massage appointments with lunch included, or preparing a "Dinner for Two" for a romantic, quiet evening alone; directing guests for an adventurous day "road trip" or to the local "hot spots," rushing clothes to a dry cleaner due to some unexpected "spill" or shopping for clothes items because someone "forgot" to pack it! Haven't we all been there?
Familiarizing myself with the city or town, and making connections with
the local merchants, enabled me to be the perfect hostess future travelers expected!
Interesting conversations circled the breakfast table of places they
had been, where they are now and where they yearn to go. I listened
attentively, respected guests' privacy, encouraged them to focus on their
vacation and enjoy their "time off" from work or family responsibilities.
Some would say "Oh well, back to reality" and I would reply. "This vacation IS part of your reality, so did you have a great time and make memories?" I started asking myself the question of how could I make a difference in peoples' busy lives?
Appreciation of my interest, and concern for them to have the "best
time" was my reward. Many guests signed my personal comment book with gracious and kind words, and we were strangers at first, friends at the end.
So, I found my niche - The position of an "InnSitter" required wearing
many "hats", and I have found the same to be true as a Concierge.
One could define a Concierge as:
At someone's service, be helpful or useful, at one's disposal
I am a Concierge, at Your service, fulfilling Your requests that will make a
difference in Your Life!
Remember to take TIME for You!
My contribution to the work force has been in the Hospitality
industry, managing Bed & Breakfasts, Small Inns & Boutique Hotels
throughout Texas. Prior to that, I worked for the T&P Railroad, now the
BNSF, in customer service. during the years of 1996-2001, I owned a
business, "Inn Touch InnSitting Service", which offered property owners or managers, an opportunity to "escape" for a much needed vacation. All the while, knowing their "baby" was in good hands. Their trust and confidence were testaments to my honest and professional work ethic. Etta's Place, A Sundance Inn in Fort Worth, The Nutt House Hotel in Granbury, the Ant Street Inn in Brenham were some of my favorite places to work. The Hoopes House in Rockport, which I continue to work one week during the summer there, and 2008 will mark my 9th year. It is a most comfortable & beautifully landscaped B&B.
Common responsibilities at every location were on-site property
management, knowledge of business policies & procedures, daily sales revenue reports & banking transactions, booking all reservation requests (via phone, email, through on-line software, as well as, spur-of-the-moment guest walk-ins), overseeing housekeepers & schedules, as well as, menu planning, preparation & serving the guests that delicious breakfast that they so looked forward to! If you ever see a small -mini book entitled "Texas Morning Glory, Memorable Breakfast Recipes from Lone Star B&B and Inns" look for some of my recipes. Fort Worth's own, Star-telegram writer Barry Shlachter complied the book and asked me to write the introduction. It was an honor and my recipes weren't so bad either!
Common B&B guest requests were: locating a "perfect gift" for that
special occasion; making dinner reservations; purchasing amusement tickets for a local play, music concert, or sporting event; arranging
transportation; ordering "her" favorite flowers for delivery; scheduling
massage appointments with lunch included, or preparing a "Dinner for Two" for a romantic, quiet evening alone; directing guests for an adventurous day "road trip" or to the local "hot spots," rushing clothes to a dry cleaner due to some unexpected "spill" or shopping for clothes items because someone "forgot" to pack it! Haven't we all been there?
Familiarizing myself with the city or town, and making connections with
the local merchants, enabled me to be the perfect hostess future travelers expected!
Interesting conversations circled the breakfast table of places they
had been, where they are now and where they yearn to go. I listened
attentively, respected guests' privacy, encouraged them to focus on their
vacation and enjoy their "time off" from work or family responsibilities.
Some would say "Oh well, back to reality" and I would reply. "This vacation IS part of your reality, so did you have a great time and make memories?" I started asking myself the question of how could I make a difference in peoples' busy lives?
Appreciation of my interest, and concern for them to have the "best
time" was my reward. Many guests signed my personal comment book with gracious and kind words, and we were strangers at first, friends at the end.
So, I found my niche - The position of an "InnSitter" required wearing
many "hats", and I have found the same to be true as a Concierge.
One could define a Concierge as:
At someone's service, be helpful or useful, at one's disposal
I am a Concierge, at Your service, fulfilling Your requests that will make a
difference in Your Life!
Remember to take TIME for You!
Our hospitality - your happiness!